First XV: The Dapto Chaser (2015)
[#14 in a series of my favourite images, from my first 15 years as a professional photographer.]
The Dapto Chaser is one of those shows that will stick with me for years to come.
For me, it's great when I have the opportunity to be involved with a production at several points along the way, from the initial publicity images through rehearsals and onto the stage itself - getting to know the production, as well as the cast and crew, as we get closer to the opening.
This one, of course, was taken on the first day - in a studio here in Surry Hills, while meeting the cast for the first time. Fortunately, even though rehearsals hadn't started as yet, each of them had a pretty good idea of their character and how they related to each other in the show - so we were able to do a series of images, some individuals, some duos, and finally some group images of the four of them together.
It's funny how many people assume - because Photoshop is so normal these days - that this was four solo images, spliced together; but, in fact, it's a single frame capture.
I always prefer it that way, if possible; it can be really hard to get the light right when you're combining images, shadows of one person not falling on the person beside them, or something like that. The natural interactions between people in close proximity, and light reflecting off them, is very hard to make 'real' later.
Just as a bonus, here's a couple of other frames from the same session - these guys were so good, we could have used any of about a dozen of them!
And, best of all, the show's back on tour right now - so if you're in Armidale, Mudgee, Temora, or Cootamundra, you can check it out!
Next week, one more year - 2016! (We're nearly there!)